Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a display panel, a rear face housing, a substrate, at least one light source, a reflective sheet, and a fixing member. The display panel is configured to display an image. The rear face housing is disposed rearward with respect to a rear face of the display panel. The substrate is disposed between the display panel and the rear face housing. The at least one light source is mounted on the substrate and configured to emit light toward the rear face of the display panel. The reflective sheet is partially sandwiched between the substrate and the rear face housing. The reflective sheet has an opening at a location where the substrate is disposed. The fixing member fixedly attaches the substrate to the rear face housing through the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.2013-233237 filed on Nov. 11, 2013. The entire disclosure of JapanesePatent Application No. 2013-233237 is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a display device fordisplaying images.

2. Background Information

An example of a known display device for displaying images is a liquidcrystal television receiver. A liquid crystal television receiver isequipped with a backlight unit that shines light at the rear face of aliquid crystal cell (see Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010-210891 (Patent Literature 1), for example). Onetype of backlight unit is a direct backlight in which the light sourceis disposed directly under the liquid crystal cell. A direct backlighthas a wiring board, a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that aremounted on the front side of the wiring board, and a reflective sheetfor reflecting the light from the LEDs toward the rear face of theliquid crystal cell.

With a conventional direct backlight, the wiring board is fixed to therear frame by double-sided adhesive tape. The double-sided adhesive tapeis affixed to the entire rear face of the wiring board. The reflectivesheet is attached to the rear frame so as to cover the wiring board. Atthis point, the LEDs mounted on the wiring board are exposed through aplurality of holes made in the reflective sheet.

Furthermore, with a conventional direct backlight, a holder is used toreduce sagging of the reflective sheet. This holder has a hold-downcomponent and a sandwiching component. The hold-down component holdsdown the reflective sheet from the liquid crystal cell side, and thesandwiching component goes through the reflective sheet and sandwichesthe wiring board from the short-side direction, so that the reflectivesheet and the wiring board are fixed together. This reduces sagging ofthe reflective sheet to the liquid crystal cell side.

SUMMARY

However, the following problems are encountered with the conventionaldisplay device discussed above. The hold-down component of theabove-mentioned holder sticks far out from the surface of the reflectivesheet toward the liquid crystal cell side. Therefore, the LEDs have tobe disposed sufficiently far away from the holder so that the holderwill not block part of the light from the LEDs. The problem with this isthat there is less latitude in the optical layout of the LEDs. Anotherproblem is that using the above-mentioned holder drives up the cost ofmanufacturing the display device.

One aspect is to provide a display device that can be manufactured at alower cost and with which greater latitude is afforded in the opticallayout in disposing the light source.

In view of the state of the known technology, a display device providedthat includes a display panel, a rear face housing, a substrate, atleast one light source, a reflective sheet, and a fixing member. Thedisplay panel is configured to display an image. The rear face housingis disposed rearward with respect to a rear face of the display panel.The substrate is disposed between the display panel and the rear facehousing. The at least one light source is mounted on the substrate andconfigured to emit light toward the rear face of the display panel. Thereflective sheet is partially sandwiched between the substrate and therear face housing. The reflective sheet has an opening at a locationwhere the substrate is disposed. The fixing member fixedly attaches thesubstrate to the rear face housing through the opening.

Also other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings, discloses one embodiment of the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of thisoriginal disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front face side of a display devicein accordance with a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear face side of the display devicein accordance with the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the state when the displaydevice in accordance with the first embodiment has been exploded;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the internal structure of thedisplay device in accordance with the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the display device, taken along A-Aline in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail cross sectional view of part of a backlight unit ofthe display device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded, partial perspective view of the state when partof the backlight unit has been exploded;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of part of a backlight unit of adisplay device in accordance with a second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of part of a reflective sheet in FIG.8;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the internal structure of adisplay device in accordance with a third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of part of a backlight unit of thedisplay device, taken along B-B line in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of part of a backlight unit of adisplay device in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to thedrawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdisclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments areprovided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting theinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.Specifically, the numerical values, shapes, materials, constituentelements, layout positions and connection modes of the constituentelements, and so forth given in the following embodiments are providedall just for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting thepresent invention. The present invention is merely defined by theappended claims. Of the constituent elements in the followingembodiments, those not mentioned in an independent claim are notnecessarily needed to achieve the object of the present invention, andwill be described for understanding of the embodiments.

First Embodiment

External Structure of Display Device

First, the external structure of a display device 2 in accordance with afirst embodiment will be described through reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front face side of the displaydevice 2 in accordance with the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the rear face side of the display device 2 inaccordance with the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device 2 in this embodiment is aliquid crystal television receiver. The display device 2 includes ahousing 4. The housing 4 has a front cabinet 6 and a rear frame 8 (e.g.,a rear face housing) that are fitted together.

The front cabinet 6 is configured in the form of a frame, and covers theouter peripheral part of a liquid crystal cell 24 described below (e.g.,a display panel). The front cabinet 6 is formed from plastic, forexample.

The rear frame 8 is disposed so as to cover the rear face side of theliquid crystal cell 24. A flange 8 a (see FIG. 4; discussed below) isprovided to the outer peripheral part of the rear frame 8. The rearframe 8 is formed from sheet metal, such as SECC (steel electricallychromate coated).

A rear cover 10 is attached to the outer face of the rear frame 8. Therear cover 10 is formed from plastic, for example. A power supply boardor the like (not shown) for supplying electrical power to the liquidcrystal cell 24 is housed inside the rear cover 10. A stand 12 forsupporting the housing 4 from below is attached to the lower end of therear cover 10.

Internal Structure of Display Device

The internal structure of the display device 2 will now be describedthrough reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspectiveview of the state when the display device 2 in accordance with the firstembodiment has been exploded. FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of theinternal structure of the display device 2 in accordance with the firstembodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the display device 2,taken along A-A line in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, a backlight unit 14, a diffuser 16, a pair ofoptical sheets 18 and 20, a plurality of (four in FIG. 3) cell guides 22a to 22 d, the liquid crystal cell 24, and a plurality of (four in FIG.3) bezels 26 a to 26 d are disposed between the front cabinet 6 and therear frame 8.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the backlight unit 14 is a direct backlightunit, and is used to shine light at the rear face of the liquid crystalcell 24. The backlight unit 14 has a reflective sheet 28 and a pluralityof (three in FIG. 3) LED bars 30.

The reflective sheet 28 is disposed so as to cover the inner face of therear frame 8. The reflective sheet 28 is used to reflect light from theLED bars 30 toward the rear face of the liquid crystal cell 24. Thereflective sheet 28 is formed from an acrylic plastic, for example.

The LED bars 30 are disposed substantially parallel to each other andspaced apart relative to each other. The LED bars 30 each have a wiringboard 32 (e.g., a substrate) and a plurality of (ten in FIG. 4) LEDs 34(e.g., at least one light sources) mounted on the front of the wiringboard 32.

The wiring board 32 is configured in the form of a long, slender plate.The wiring board 32 is formed from a metal with high thermalconductivity, such as aluminum. A white resist layer 33 that has thesame reflectivity as the reflective sheet 28, for example, is formed onthe front of the wiring board 32 (that is, the side where the LEDs 34are mounted). The wiring board 32 is disposed over the reflective sheet28. The wiring board 32 and the reflective sheet 28 are fixed togetherin order to keep the reflective sheet 28 from sagging toward the liquidcrystal cell 24 side. With the display device 2 in this embodiment, thefixing structure is used to fix the wiring board 32 and the reflectivesheet 28 together. This fixing structure will be discussed below. In theillustrated embodiment, the white resist layer 33 is formed to define asurface (e.g., a reflective surface) of the wiring board 32. However,alternatively, the wiring board 32 can be formed without the whiteresist layer 33.

The LEDs 34 are disposed spaced apart relative to each other and arearranged in a single row on the wiring board 32 in the lengthwisedirection of the wiring board 32. Each of the LEDs 34 is formed by apower LED, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the LEDs 34 areequidistantly spaced apart with respect to each other, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the diffuser 16 is configured in the form ofa thin, rectangular plate, and is disposed between the backlight unit 14and the liquid crystal cell 24. The diffuser 16 is used to diffuse lightfrom the backlight unit 14 toward the rear face of the liquid crystalcell 24. A plurality of support members 36 are disposed over thereflective sheet 28. Each of the support members 36 is used to keep thediffuser 16 from sagging toward the backlight unit 14 side, and supportsthe rear face of the diffuser 16. Each of the support members 36 alsohas the function of fixing the reflective sheet 28 and the rear frame 8together.

The pair of optical sheets 18 and 20 is disposed so as to cover thefront of the diffuser 16, with the two sheets superposed one over theother. Each of the optical sheets 18 and 20 is used to guide lightdiffused by the diffuser 16 to the rear face of the liquid crystal cell24.

As shown in FIG. 5, the outer peripheral parts of the above-mentionedreflective sheet 28, the diffuser 16, and the optical sheets 18 and 20are supported by the flange 8 a of the rear frame 8.

The four cell guides 22 a to 22 d are configured in a long, slendershape. The four cell guides 22 a to 22 d are fitted together to form arectangular frame overall. The four cell guides 22 a to 22 d that havebeen fitted into a frame shape are attached to the flange 8 a of therear frame 8.

The liquid crystal cell 24 is configured in the form of a rectangularpanel. The outer peripheral part of the rear face side of the liquidcrystal cell 24 is supported by the four cell guides 22 a to 22 d thathave been fitted into a frame shape. When light from the backlight unit14 shines on the rear face of the liquid crystal cell 24, an image isdisplayed on the liquid crystal cell 24.

Each of the four bezels 26 a to 26 d is configured in a long, slendershape. When the four bezels 26 a to 26 d are fitted together, they makea rectangular frame shape overall. The four bezels 26 a to 26 d thathave been fitted into a frame shape cover the outer peripheral part onthe front side of the liquid crystal cell 24.

The front cabinet 6 is attached to the rear frame 8 so as to cover thefour bezels 26 a to 26 d that have been fitted together into a frame.

Fixing Structure

The fixing structure that is used to fix the wiring board 32 and thereflective sheet 28 together will now be described through reference toFIGS. 4, 6, and 7. FIG. 6 is a detail cross sectional view of part ofthe backlight unit 14 of the display device 2 in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is anexploded, partial perspective view of the state when part of thebacklight unit 14 has been exploded.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, a pair of openings 38 is provided foreach of the wiring boards 32. The openings 38 are disposed at theportion of the reflective sheet 28 corresponding to the place where thewiring board 32 is disposed (that is, the portion covered by the wiringboard 32). Each of the openings 38 is configured in the form of arectangular shape that is wider than it is tall, and that extends in thelengthwise direction of the wiring board 32. The pair of the openings 38are spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the wiring board 32.Specifically, the openings 38 are disposed closer to ends 32 b and 32 cin the lengthwise direction than to the center 32 a in the lengthwisedirection of the wiring board 32, respectively.

A plurality pieces of double-sided adhesive tape 40 having thermalconductivity (e.g., a fixing member) are disposed in the openings 38,respectively. The pieces of the double-sided adhesive tape 40 have ashape corresponding to the shape of the openings 38, and are formed froman acrylic material, for example. A first adhesive face 40 a of thedouble-sided adhesive tape 40 is affixed to the inner face of the rearframe 8 exposed through the opening 38. A second adhesive face 40 b onthe opposite side of the double-sided adhesive tape 40 from the firstadhesive face 40 a is affixed to the rear face of the wiring board 32(that is, the face on the opposite side from the surface where the LEDs34 are mounted). Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the double-sidedadhesive tape 40 is disposed within each of the openings 38 of thereflective sheet 28 such that the double-sided adhesive tape 40 isattached to both the wiring board 32 and the rear frame 8.

Consequently, the pieces of the double-sided adhesive tape 40 fix thewiring board 32 to the rear frame 8 through the corresponding openings38. Because each of the wiring boards 32 is thus fixed to the rear frame8, part of the reflective sheet 28 (namely, the portions covered by thewiring boards 32, and the portions where the openings 38 are notprovided) is sandwiched between the wiring boards 32 and the rear frame8. As a result, the wiring boards 32 and the reflective sheet 28 arefixed together, and this keeps the reflective sheet 28 from saggingtoward the liquid crystal cell 24 side.

The procedure for fixing the wiring boards 32 to the rear frame 8 willnow be described briefly. First, the reflective sheet 28 is attached tothe inner face of the rear frame 8. Then, the first adhesive face 40 aof the double-sided adhesive tape 40 is attached to the inner face ofthe rear frame 8 exposed through the opening 38. After this, the wiringboard 32 is placed on the reflective sheet 28, which affixes the secondadhesive face 40 b of the double-sided adhesive tape 40 to the rear faceof the wiring board 32. This fixes the wiring board 32 to the rear framerear frame 8 with the two pieces of double-sided adhesive tape 40.

Instead of the above procedure, the wiring board 32 may be fixed to therear frame 8 by the following procedure, for example. First, thereflective sheet 28 is attached to the inner face of the rear frame 8.Then, the second adhesive face 40 b of the double-sided adhesive tape 40is pre-affixed to the rear face of the wiring board 32. After this, thewiring board 32 to which the double-sided adhesive tape 40 has beenaffixed is placed on the reflective sheet 28, which affixes the firstadhesive face 40 a of the double-sided adhesive tape 40 to the innerface of the rear frame 8 exposed through the opening 38.

Effect

Next, the effect obtained with the display device 2 in this embodimentwill be described. As discussed above, the pair of the pieces of thedouble-sided adhesive tape 40 fixes respective one of the wiring boards32 to the rear frame 8 through the corresponding openings 38.Consequently, part of the reflective sheet 28 is sandwiched between thewiring boards 32 and the rear frame 8, and the wiring boards 32 and thereflective sheet 28 are fixed together. As a result, since the wiringboards 32 and the reflective sheet 28 can be fixed together withoutusing a conventional holder, it is less likely that light from the LEDs34 will be blocked, regardless of the layout of the LEDs 34, and thisaffords greater latitude in the optical layout of the LEDs 34.Furthermore, since the conventional holder can be eliminated, the costof manufacturing the display device 2 can be reduced by a correspondingamount.

With the display device 2 in this embodiment, part of the reflectivesheet 28 is covered by the wiring boards 32. However, since the whiteresist layers or films 33 are formed on the front of the wiring boards32 as mentioned above, part of the light from the LEDs 34 will bereflected by the front of the wiring boards 32. This allows the lightfrom the LEDs 34 to be efficiently guided to the rear face of the liquidcrystal cell 24.

Furthermore, the following effect can be obtained with the displaydevice 2 in this embodiment. As the LEDs 34 are lit, heat from the LEDs34 is transmitted through the wiring boards 32 and the pieces of thedouble-sided adhesive tape 40 to the rear frame 8, and then dissipatesfrom the rear frame 8. In general, with the LED bars 30 in which theLEDs 34 are arranged in the lengthwise direction of the wiring boards32, heat from the LEDs 34 tends to concentrate in the centers 32 a ofthe wiring boards 32. With the display device 2 in this embodiment, thepieces of double-sided adhesive tape 40 are disposed closer to the ends32 b and 32 c of the wiring boards 32 in the lengthwise direction thanto the centers 32 a in the lengthwise direction of the wiring boards 32.Thus, heat from the centers 32 a of the wiring boards 32 will betransmitted to the rear frame 8 along a path that diverts around thereflective sheet 28 directly below, and goes through the double-sidedadhesive tape 40. As a result, the heat transmission efficiency from thecenters 32 a of the wiring boards 32 to the rear frame 8 will berelatively low, which keeps the temperature of the rear frame 8 fromrising. This allows the temperature of the rear frame 8 exposed on theoutside of the display device 2 to be maintained at or below thestandard temperature (such as 30° C.) recommended by UL (UnderwritersLaboratories, Inc.) standards.

Also, an air layer may be formed in place of the reflective sheet 28directly under the centers 32 a of the wiring boards 32 in order todivert the heat from the centers 32 a of the wiring boards 32 around thereflective sheet 28 directly below, and transmit it to the rear frame 8.

Second Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, a display device 2A in accordance with asecond embodiment will now be explained. In view of the similaritybetween the first and second embodiments, the parts of the secondembodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment willbe given the same reference numerals as the parts of the firstembodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the secondembodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment maybe omitted for the sake of brevity.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of part of a backlight unit 14A ofthe display device 2A in accordance with the second embodiment. FIG. 9is a front elevational view of part of a reflective sheet 28A in FIG. 8.In the various embodiments discussed below, those constituent elementsthat are the same as in the first embodiment above will be numbered thesame and will not be described again.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, with the backlight unit 14A of the displaydevice 2A in this embodiment, the reflective sheet 28A has a pair ofopenings 38A for each of wiring boards 32A. Each of the openings 38A ofthe reflective sheet 28A has a main opening 42 a and a pair of slits 42b. The main openings 42 a are covered by the wiring boards 32A,respectively, and are configured in the form of a rectangular shape thatis wider than it is tall and extends in the lengthwise direction of thecorresponding wiring board 32A. A piece of double-sided adhesive tape 40is disposed within each of the main openings 42 a. The slits 42 b extendsubstantially perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of thecorresponding wiring board 32A, from the two ends in the lengthwisedirection of the corresponding main opening 42 a. As shown in FIG. 8, ina state in which the wiring boards 32A have been placed on thereflective sheet 28A, the distal ends of the slits 42 b are exposed, andnot covered by the wiring boards 32A. Thus, in the illustratedembodiment, the main opening 42 a has an overall rectangular shape.Also, the slits 42 b extend from two ends of the main opening 42 a in adirection perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the main opening42 a, and has a larger dimension in the direction than the main opening42 a. Furthermore, the double-sided adhesive tape is disposed within themain opening 42 a of the reflective sheet 28A such that the double-sidedadhesive tape is attached to both the wiring board 32A and the rearframe 8.

Furthermore, with the backlight unit 14A of the display device 2A inthis embodiment, markings 44 formed by silkscreen printing, for example,are provided to the front of the wiring boards 32A of the LED bars 30A.The markings 44 are line-shaped marks extending substantiallyperpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the corresponding wiringboard 32A. The markings 44 are made at locations corresponding to theslits 42 b, respectively.

With the display device 2A in this embodiment, the following effects canbe obtained in addition to the effects described for the firstembodiment above. When the wiring boards 32A are fixed to the rear frame8, the wiring boards 32A can be easily positioned with respect to thereflective sheet 28A by aligning the positions of the markings 44 withthe position of the slits 42 b. In the illustrated embodiment, thewiring board 32A can also include a white resist layer, which isidentical to the white resist layer 33 as described in the firstembodiment, to define a surface (e.g., a reflective surface) of thewiring board 32A.

Third Embodiment

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, a display device 2B in accordance witha third embodiment will now be explained. In view of the similaritybetween the first to third embodiments, the parts of the thirdembodiment that are identical to the parts of the first or secondembodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of thefirst or second embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts ofthe third embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first orsecond embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. FIG. 10 is afront elevational view of the internal structure of the display device2B in accordance with the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross sectionalview of part of a backlight unit 14B of the display device 2B, takenalong B-B line in FIG. 10.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, with the backlight unit 14B of the displaydevice 2B in this embodiment, a reflective sheet 28B has a plurality of(eleven in FIG. 11) openings 38B for each of wiring boards 32. Theopenings 38B are disposed corresponding to the spaces between adjacentpairs of LEDs 34 out of the plurality of LEDs 34 for each of the wiringboards 32. A piece of double-sided adhesive tape 40B is disposed withineach of the openings 38B. Consequently, the pieces of the double-sidedadhesive tape 40B are disposed corresponding to the spaces betweenadjacent pairs of LEDs 34 out of the plurality of LEDs 34. Thus, in theillustrated embodiment, the double-sided adhesive tape 40B is disposedwithin the opening 38B of the reflective sheet 28B such that thedouble-sided adhesive tape 40 is attached to both the wiring board 32and the rear frame 8.

The following effect can be obtained with the display device 2B in thisembodiment. Heat from the LEDs 34 is transmitted to the rear frame 8along a path that diverts around the reflective sheet 28B directly belowand goes through the double-sided adhesive tape 40B. As a result, theheat transmission efficiency from the LEDs 34 to the rear frame 8 willbe relatively low, which keeps the temperature of the rear frame 8 fromrising. This allows the temperature of the rear frame 8 exposed on theoutside of the display device 2B to be maintained at or below thestandard temperature (such as 30° C.) recommended by UL standards.

Also, an air layer may be formed in place of the reflective sheet 28Bdirectly under the LEDs 34 in order to divert the heat from the LEDs 34around the reflective sheet 28B directly below, and transmit it to therear frame 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the wiring board 32 canalso include a white resist layer, which is identical to the whiteresist layer 33 as described in the first embodiment, to define asurface (e.g., a reflective surface) of the wiring board 32.

Fourth Embodiment

Referring now to FIG. 12, a display device 2C in accordance with afourth embodiment will now be explained. In view of the similaritybetween the first to fourth embodiments, the parts of the fourthembodiment that are identical to the parts of the first, second or thirdembodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of thefirst, second or third embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of theparts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of thefirst, second or third embodiment may be omitted for the sake ofbrevity. FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of part of a backlight unit14C of the display device 2C in accordance with the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, with the backlight unit 14C of the display device2C in this embodiment, each of wiring boards 32C is fixed to a rearframe 8C by using a pair of screws 46 (e.g., fixing members) instead ofthe double-sided adhesive tape 40 or 40B discussed above.

Specifically, each of the wiring boards 32C of LED bars 30C has a pairof through-holes 48 for inserting the screws 46. Also, with the displaydevice 2C, a reflective sheet 28C has a pair of openings 38Ccorresponding to the through-holes 48 for each of the wiring boards 32C.The openings 38C are each circular in shape, and have a diameter that isslightly larger (such as about a few millimeters) than the diameter ofthe screws 46. Furthermore, the refer frame 8C has a pair of threadedholes 50 for threading in the screws 46 corresponding to thethrough-holes 48 for each of the wiring boards 32C.

Each of the wiring boards 32C is fixed to the rear frame 8C by threadingthe screws 46 into the threaded holes 50 through the through-holes 48and the openings 38C. The same effect can be obtained with thisconfiguration as with the first embodiment above. The wiring boards 32Ccan be easily positioned with respect to the reflective sheet 28C byaligning the through-holes 48 with the openings 38C. Thus, in theillustrated embodiment, the screw 46 extends through the though-hole 48of the wiring board 32C and the opening 38C of the reflective sheet 28Cand is threaded into the threaded hole 50 of the rear frame 8C. In theillustrated embodiment, the wiring board 32 can also include a whiteresist layer, which is identical to the white resist layer 33 asdescribed in the first embodiment, to define a surface (e.g., areflective surface) of the wiring board 32.

The display devices in accordance with the first to fourth embodimentsof the present invention were described above, but the present inventionis not limited to or by these embodiments. For example, the variousembodiments given above may be combined with one another.

In the above embodiments, the display device is a liquid crystaltelevision receiver, but this is not the only option. For example, thedisplay device may be a liquid crystal monitor used for a personalcomputer.

In the above embodiments, the wiring board is formed from aluminum, butthis is not the only option. For example, the wiring board may insteadbe formed from a glass epoxy resin.

In the first to third embodiments above, thermally conductivedouble-sided adhesive tape is used as the fixing member, but this is notthe only option. The double-sided adhesive tape that is not thermallyconductive may be used as the fixing member instead.

The display device of the present invention can be applied as a liquidcrystal television receiver, for example.

In the illustrated embodiment, the display device in accordance with oneaspect is a display device for displaying images. The display deviceincludes a display panel configured to display an image, a rear facehousing disposed rearward with respect to a rear face of the displaypanel, a substrate disposed between the display panel and the rear facehousing, at least one light source mounted on the substrate andconfigured to emit light toward the rear face of the display panel, areflective sheet partially sandwiched between the substrate and the rearface housing, the reflective sheet having an opening at a location wherethe substrate is disposed, and a fixing member fixedly attaching thesubstrate to the rear face housing through the opening.

With this aspect, the fixing member fixes the substrate to the rear facehousing through the opening in the reflective sheet. Consequently partof the reflective sheet is sandwiched between the substrate and the rearface housing, and the substrate and the reflective sheet are fixedtogether. As a result, the substrate and the reflective sheet are fixedtogether without having to use a conventional holder, so it is lesslikely that light from the light source will be blocked, regardless ofthe layout of the light source. This affords greater latitude in theoptical layout of the light source. Furthermore, since the conventionalcan be eliminated, the cost of manufacturing the display device can bereduced by a corresponding amount.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the substrate hasa white resist layer on a surface of the substrate on which the lightsource is mounted.

With this aspect, since a white resist layer is formed on the side ofthe substrate where the light source is mounted, part of the light fromthe light source will be reflected by the substrate. This allows thelight from the light source to be efficiently guided to the displaypanel.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the fixing memberincludes a double-sided adhesive tape.

With this aspect, since the fixing member includes a double-sidedadhesive tape, the substrate can be easily fixed to the rear facehousing by putting the double-sided adhesive tape through the opening inthe reflective sheet and locating it between the substrate and the rearface housing.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the double-sidedadhesive tape may have thermal conductivity.

With this aspect, since the double-sided adhesive tape has thermalconductivity, heat from the light source can be transmitted through thedouble-sided adhesive tape to the rear face housing. This allows theheat from the light source to be dissipated from the rear face housing,and improves the heat dissipation effect.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the fixing membermay include a screw.

With this aspect, since the fixing member includes a screw, thesubstrate can be easily fixed to the rear face housing by screwing thesubstrate to the rear face housing.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the opening has amain opening that is covered by the substrate and within which thefixing member is disposed, and a slit that extends from the main openingand that is not covered by the substrate such that a distal end of theslit is exposed. Also, the substrate can have a marking for positioningthe substrate with respect to the reflective sheet, and the substrate ispositioned with respect to the reflective sheet by aligning the markingwith the slit.

With this aspect, since the opening has a slit, and a marking isprovided to the substrate, when the substrate is fixed to the rear facehousing, the substrate can be easily positioned with respect to thereflective sheet by aligning the position of the marking with theposition of the slit.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the at least onelight source has a plurality of the light sources that are spaced apartfrom each other in a lengthwise direction of the substrate, and theopening is disposed closer to an end of the substrate in the lengthwisedirection of the substrate than to a center of the substrate in thelengthwise direction of the substrate.

With this aspect, since the opening is disposed closer to the end in thelengthwise direction than to the center in the lengthwise direction ofthe substrate, heat from the center in the lengthwise direction of thesubstrate, which rises to a relatively high temperature, will betransmitted to the rear face housing along a path that diverts aroundthe reflective sheet and so forth directly below and goes through theopening. As a result, since the heat transmission efficiency from thecenter in the lengthwise direction of the substrate to the rear facehousing is relatively low, an increase in the temperature of the rearface housing can be suppressed.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the at least onelight source has a plurality of the light sources that are disposedspaced apart from each other in a lengthwise direction of the substrate,and the opening is disposed corresponding to a space between an adjacentpair of the light sources.

With this aspect, since the opening is disposed corresponding to thespace between the adjacent pair of the light sources, any heat from thelight sources will be transmitted to the rear face housing along a paththat diverts around the reflective sheet and so forth directly below,and goes through the opening. As a result, since the heat transmissionefficiency from the light sources to the rear face housing is relativelylow, an increase in the temperature of the rear face housing can besuppressed.

With the display device in accordance with an aspect, the display devicecan be manufactured at a lower cost, and greater latitude is afforded inthe optical layout in disposing the light source.

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term“comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to beopen ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features,elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not excludethe presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups,integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words havingsimilar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and theirderivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or“element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of asingle part or a plurality of parts unless otherwise stated.

As used herein, the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”,“front”, “rear”, “up”, “down”, “above”, “below”, “upward”, “downward”,“top”, “bottom”, “side”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “perpendicular” and“transverse” as well as any other similar directional terms refer tothose directions of a display device in an upright position.Accordingly, these directional terms, as utilized to describe thedisplay device should be interpreted relative to a display device in anupright position on a horizontal surface. The terms “left” and “right”are used to indicate the “right” when referencing from the right side asviewed from the front, and the “left” when referencing from the leftside as viewed from the front.

The term “attached” or “attaching”, as used herein, encompassesconfigurations in which an element is directly secured to anotherelement by affixing the element directly to the other element;configurations in which the element is indirectly secured to the otherelement by affixing the element to the intermediate member(s) which inturn are affixed to the other element; and configurations in which oneelement is integral with another element, i.e. one element isessentially part of the other element. This definition also applies towords of similar meaning, for example, “joined”, “connected”, “coupled”,“mounted”, “bonded”, “fixed” and their derivatives. Finally, terms ofdegree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” as usedherein mean an amount of deviation of the modified term such that theend result is not significantly changed.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate thepresent invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthis disclosure that various changes and modifications can be madeherein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims. For example, unless specifically stated otherwise,the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components canbe changed as needed and/or desired so long as the changes do notsubstantially affect their intended function. Unless specifically statedotherwise, components that are shown directly connected or contactingeach other can have intermediate structures disposed between them solong as the changes do not substantially affect their intended function.The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versaunless specifically stated otherwise. The structures and functions ofone embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessaryfor all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the sametime. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or incombination with other features, also should be considered a separatedescription of further inventions by the applicant, including thestructural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus,the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the presentinvention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose oflimiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panelconfigured to display an image; a rear face housing disposed rearwardwith respect to a rear face of the display panel; a substrate disposedbetween the display panel and the rear face housing; at least one lightsource mounted on the substrate and configured to emit light toward therear face of the display panel; a reflective sheet partially sandwichedbetween the substrate and the rear face housing, the reflective sheethaving an opening at a location where the substrate is disposed; and afixing member fixedly attaching the substrate to the rear face housingthrough the opening.
 2. The display device according to claim 1, whereinthe substrate has a white resist layer on a surface of the substrate onwhich the light source is mounted.
 3. The display device according toclaim 1, wherein the fixing member includes a double-sided adhesivetape.
 4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein thedouble-sided adhesive tape has thermal conductivity.
 5. The displaydevice according to claim 3, wherein the double-sided adhesive tape isdisposed within the opening of the reflective sheet such that thedouble-sided adhesive tape is fixedly attached to both the substrate andthe rear face housing.
 6. The display device according to claim 1,wherein the fixing member includes a screw.
 7. The display deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the screw extends through a through-holeof the substrate and the opening of the reflective sheet and is threadedinto a threaded hole of the rear face housing.
 8. The display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the opening has a main opening that iscovered by the substrate and within which the fixing member is disposed,and a slit that extends from the main opening and that is not covered bythe substrate such that a distal end of the slit is exposed.
 9. Thedisplay device according to claim 8, wherein the main opening has anoverall rectangular shape, and the slit extends from an end of the mainopening in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of themain opening, and has a larger dimension in the direction than the mainopening.
 10. The display device according to claim 8, wherein thesubstrate has a marking for positioning the substrate with respect tothe reflective sheet, and the substrate is positioned with respect tothe reflective sheet by aligning the marking with the slit.
 11. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lightsource has a plurality of the light sources that are spaced apart fromeach other in a lengthwise direction of the substrate, and the openingis disposed closer to an end of the substrate in the lengthwisedirection of the substrate than to a center of the substrate in thelengthwise direction of the substrate.
 12. The display device accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one light source has a plurality of thelight sources that are spaced apart from each other in a lengthwisedirection of the substrate, and the opening is disposed corresponding toa space between an adjacent pair of the light sources.
 13. The displaydevice according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member includes adouble-sided adhesive tape.
 14. The display device according to claim13, wherein the double-sided adhesive tape has thermal conductivity. 15.The display device according to claim 13, wherein the double-sidedadhesive tape is disposed within the opening of the reflective sheetsuch that the double-sided adhesive tape is attached to both thesubstrate and the rear face housing.
 16. The display device according toclaim 2, wherein the fixing member includes a screw.
 17. The displaydevice according to claim 16, wherein the screw extends through athrough-hole of the substrate and the opening of the reflective sheetand is threaded into a threaded hole of the rear face housing.